TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD

Seasons Greetings, Saints!
The gospel accounts of the birth of our Lord Jesus are simply fascinating. For some they are too strange to be believable. How can someone be born to a virgin? That defies logic, physics and biology. But then again, what is there that God can't do? If you can believe that God created the universe, then why couldn't He defy the physics and biology He created to save His highest creation on earth, humans? Atheists, agnostics and some theologians share the same skepticism about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ. If all humans exist because of the sexual union between a man and woman, or at least male sperm fertilizing a female egg, then how could Jesus be an exception to that? May I offer at least one alternative thought? The Apostle Paul in Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We are essentially born in sin because of the sin choice of the first humans. The "seed" of sin is passed on from generation to generation. No one escapes. Since sin is a violation of the relationship God desires to have with us, then sin must have righteous judgment. God, who is holy, will have relationship only with that which is also holy. Sin made us unholy. Joseph was a good man but not sinless. Mary likewise was a good and blessed woman but not sinless. "All have sinned......" If the seed of a man who is not perfect were to fertilize the seed of a woman not perfect, you produce just another sinner incapable of saving themselves. If Jesus was a product of the seed of Joseph, he may have been a good man, but a man also in need of salvation. The Gospel of John chapter one refers to Jesus as the Word of God that became flesh (John 1:14). Mary gave Him his humanity; He was born of a woman. As the Word of God He could not bleed, feel physical pain and suffer as humans know suffering. To become the "Sacrificial Lamb" He had to become as we are yet without sin. Through Mary he gained His humanity, but her egg fertilized by the Holy Spirit gave Him His divinity. As a result Jesus became 100% God and 100% human all in one. He therefore became the perfect redeemer. He could take our sins because He had no sin of His own for which He had to pay. Through one man, Adam, we all were plunged into sin, but because of the one man, Christ Jesus, all are redeemed who accept His salvation and receive Him as Lord. While this defies human logic, it also makes perfect sense. God in His great love came to us in Christ. We sinned and therefore deserve the judgement to be eternally separated from God, but God so loved the world that Jesus received our punishment upon Himself so that the requirements of God's law is met and we can be united with God forever. Wow! How great is that? This is why we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Had He not come we would still be lost with no hope of peace and salvation. Christmas is not a secular holiday as is claimed. Without Christ what is being celebrated? Gifts? The stores would be happy. Good feelings? Feeling good about what? Office parties and trees and lights for what if not for Christ? Instead of good feelings for the holidays, how about "Joy to the World the Lord has come, Let Earth receive her King!"